Vegas Magazine - Niche Media - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/61759
photography by beverly poppe spirit of generosity scholars to a meal at Julian Serrano. Muto treats her ECF one child at a time ELIZABETH MUTO'S OWN STORY DRIVES HER WORK AWARDING SCHOLARSHIPS EVERY SPRING AT THE EPICUREAN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION. as told to mark adams "M y parents taught me that it's not always most important to know what you are, but to know who you are—and not be afraid to accept that. This lesson was especially important considering my humble entrance into the world. Abandoned as an infant, I was found at the Delta ticket counter at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport and brought to the lost and found (because apparently that's where you take babies and lost luggage). After no one claimed me, I was sent to a hospital and adopted. I absolutely believe my story can serve as a catalyst for me to make a difference in the lives of children like me—to tell them that you don't have to be perfect or come from perfect beginnings to make a difference. That's why I have devoted my life to supporting children's charities. After working with Boys Town for about five years, I decided what I really 64 vegasmagazine.com wanted was to throw my rock in a puddle, rather than an ocean. I wanted to be able to see the ripple effect, to see that I was making a measurable difference. That puddle ended up being the Epicurean Charitable Foundation (ECF), which I joined in 2009 as the executive director. Here I'm able to develop industry leaders. The ECF is composed of about 30 hospitality industry leaders. We give charitable grants to the Las Vegas community, but the heart and soul of our organization is always our scholarship program that places graduates at the mid-management level. There is always a lack of qualified applicants for those positions and we're helping to fill those openings. As a former Miss Nevada, I applied what I learned from the Miss America scholarship program to make this the best program possible. The continued on page 66